englewood florida powerboat races

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Englewood Beach Waterfest OPA Races

• Date/Time Sat, Nov 20 - Sun, Nov 21, 2021 9:00am - 5:00pm
• Location Englewood Beach See on Map
• Category Community Events , Community Events: Sport

Join us for the 2021 OPA World Championship Powerboat RACES held again this year as the Keystone Event of Englewood Beach Waterfest. This year presented by North Myrtle Beach RV Resort and Dry Dock Marina!

We start this year’s event weekend with PowerUP, the kickoff party held at The Lighthouse Grill at Stump Pass Marina on THURSDAY Nov 18th, from 5-10pm, with LIVE Music from Coastal JAMZ, Waterfest Merchandise, food, RUM Tasting with Papa’s Pilar Rum, and the introduction of this year’s RACE Cocktail! Come and get a chance to rub elbows with some of the race teams, and organizers of this year’s event!

Check out this year’s COMPLETE schedule of events (some subject to change, please check Facebook and website for details)

Nov 18th – PowerUP – 5pm Party Start

Nov 19th – Block Party – Englewood Shopping Center 5-10pm LIVE remote with iHeart radio, food, drinks and BOATS!

Nov 20th – Gates open at 10am World Championship Races Start at 10:30am Family Conservation Center (FCC) 10am Food Court Area Opens at 10am Nov 21st – World Championship Races continue at 10:30am

General Admission Tickets available online for both days for only $20 (at the gate $25) Children’s Tickets are FREE (with a paying adult)VIP Tickets are LIMITED so buy yours today!

Visit www.EnglewoodBeachWaterfest.com for TICKETS, and more information on Event Details!

At: Englewood Beach

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Englewood Beach Waterfest

• https://englewoodbeachwaterfest.com/

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Offshore Powerboat World Championships return to Englewood Beach Waterfest, Nov. 18-21

ENGLEWOOD BEACH – The Offshore Powerboat Association World Championships returns to Englewood Beach, as part of Englewood Beach Waterfest, slated for Nov. 18-21. 

In 2019, the last time Englewood hosted that race – which is scheduled for Nov. 20-21 – it featured more than 70 boats and had become the largest race on the circuit. 

The race can attract up to 40,000 people, with more than a half-million people in the Midwest watching on livestream. 

Steve Gardiner, president of the Englewood Beach Waterfest Inc. board of directors, has previously said that translated into an $8 million impact on the local economy. 

NMB RV Resort and Dry Dock Marina, based in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is the keystone sponsor. 

“They've signed on to be our primary sponsors for this year and for next and they also have a boat racing, Gardiner said. “They’re in it with both feet up to their hips.” 

The resort is both seeking to draw people to South Carolina and contemplating expanding into Florida, Gardiner said. 

After a slow start with local sponsors, those have picked up, too. “This is the best year we’ve had for sponsorships, ever,” Gardiner said. 

Earlier: Englewood Beach Waterfest canceled in 2020 because of COVID-19

The nonprofit Englewood Beach Waterfest also distributes money to other area nonprofits. 

In 2019, it gave $7,500 to six different local nonprofits. 

More than 60 boats – including between four and six entries in the unlimited super boat class – have expressed interest in racing. More than 70 are anticipated to show up on race weekend.

That field will likely be affected by what happens in Key West, Nov. 7-14, at the Race World Offshore World Championships. If a boat wrecks or develops problems then, there’s not enough time to recover and be ready for Englewood Beach. 

Some racers may opt out of Key West because of cost. 

“We were told by some of the racers that they’re not going to go to Key West because its’ expensive to race there with hotel prices, so they’re skipping it,” Gardiner said. 

Tickets for Waterfest are $20 online at  www.englewoodbeachwaterfest.com   or $25 at the gate, and include parking and bus transportation to Englewood Beach, where parking is always limited. 

Children 12 and younger are free but do need a children’s ticket. 

Online ticket sales end at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 19. 

VIP passes of $100 for one day or $150 for both days include parking and transportation as well as a VIP tent and complimentary food, mixed drinks, beer and wine. 

Busses run from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are two distinct routes. The red route bus starts at the Elks Lodge, then travels to Englewood Shopping Center by Obee’s and the SunTrust Bank to the beach. 

The green route travels from Lemon Bay High School to Beach Road Bistro and then the beach. 

There are no coolers, alcohol or pets permitted on the buses or at the beach. 

Gardiner noted that there are still spaces available for food trucks at the beach, and Sunday volunteers are also needed. 

Volunteers typically meet Nov. 17 at the Elks Lodge for an orientation and to receive a T-shirt. Volunteers and vendors can sign up and learn more on the web site. 

For more information on either, call 941-473-9795 or email [email protected].  

Events include a Pre-Race Party, PowerUp from 5 to 10 p.m., Nov. 18; and the Waterfest Block Party from 5 to 9 a.m., Nov. 19 at Englewood Shopping Center, 262 S. Indiana Ave., Englewood. 

Related: Dearborn Street businesses put best foot forward ahead of road construction

The shopping center is standing in for Dearborn Street as the Block Party location this year, while Dearborn Avenue is under construction. 

“We can probably get 50 to 60 boats in there,” Gardiner said, then added that Waterfest has rented generators and lights, to illuminate the parking lot. 

Between 11 and 14 classes of boats will race both Nov. 20 and 21. Races start at 10 a.m., while gates open a 9 a.m. 

Waterfest Village on Englewood Beach will be open Friday, as well as all day Saturday and Sunday. 

Mote Marine Laboratory will have six exhibits at the village, while others will be from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Friends of Stump Pass, Josh the Otter and the Lemon Bay Conservancy and the Peace River Wildlife Center with Luna the Owl. 

Other children’s activities include face painting, a butterfly encounter, sand art and a scavenger hunt. 

As for the races, as many as four different boat classes may be on the 4.3-mile offshore course at one time. 

“We re-did the race course this year to bring it in,” Gardine said. “So, it’s really out in front of Englewood Beach.” 

Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at [email protected]. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune.

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• Englewood, FL

Englewood Beach Waterfest

Saturday, Nov 18, 2023 at 10:00am

Join Us for the  2023 Englewood Beach Waterfest  which is scheduled to take place from Thursday, November 16th through Sunday, November 19th at various locations throughout Englewood, Florida.

RACE DAY EVENTS

OPA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 Raceday Events

SAT, NOV 18 & SUN, NOV 19, 2023, 10 AM TO 4 PM

Speed, Power and Excitement comes to Englewood, Florida! Watch thrilling offshore powerboat racing from Englewood Beach as boats gather points for the world championship races! This is the World Championships for OPA Racing (Offshore Powerboat Association) with 75+ boats running at speeds up to and over 150 miles per hour.

Saturday and Sunday, races start at approximately 10 AM, and the gate opens at 9 AM.

Race fans are encouraged to visit Waterfest Village on Englewood Beach during practice days on Friday and also all day on Saturday and Sunday.

2023 FAMILY CONSERVATION CENTER

Sat, Nov 18 & Sun, Nov 19, 2023, 10 AM to 4 PM

Mote Marine Laboratory will have six exhibits at Englewood Beach Waterfest on November 18 & 29, 2023 in the new Family Conservation Center. The exhibits are:

FIN-TASTIC FRIENDS – Learn the truth about the often misunderstood sharks and rays and about Mote’s current research to discover more about these amazing animals.

FLORIDA WATERSHEDS – What kinds of native animals live in your backyard? Learn about some of our remarkable native residents such as gators, birds and river otters. Discover what is harming our local watersheds and what you can do to protect them.

MARINE CSI – Learn about Mote’s team of experts who investigate animal strandings. Compare a dolphin and manatee skull, feel real dolphin bones and see if you can learn how to solve the case.

SPINELESS SEA – What do a sea star, a whelk, a horseshoe crab and a squid have in common? Learn some of the weird and wacky adaptations of the spineless sea, and how to protect them and help keep them in the ocean where they belong.

RADICAL REEFS – Are corals plants, animals or minerals? Learn about these fascinating ecosystems and the important work Mote scientists are doing to study, protect and restore our planet’s coral reefs.

Also scheduled to exhibit in addition to Mote:

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida

Florida Right to Clean Water

Gumbo Limbo Coastal Stewards

Lemon Bay High School Marine Club

Other Children’s Activities scheduled:

Face Painting

Venice Photo Booth

Butterfly Encounter

Expand your family’s marine life education and conservation efforts. Bring the whole family to The Family Conservation Center at Englewood Beach during the Englewood Beach Waterfest, Nov. 18 &19, 2023.

2023 WATERFEST BEACH OASIS

Cantina & Food Court

Come for the Races and the Family Conservation Center and enjoy the food!

Directly on the beach under tents, local restaurants will offer their Seafood and regional cuisine including many of your local favorites. Waterfest will have special fare for the children as well. Throughout the Food Court we will also have all types of traditional festival foods like funnel cakes, snow cones, popcorn, pretzels, ice cream and other delicacies you will enjoy.

What would a festival be without adult beverages? Waterfest will have beer, wine and mixed drinks this year throughout Waterfest Village. We will also be serving our signature specially priced, “Raceday cocktail” you don’t want to miss.

WATERFEST TICKET

November 18 – 19, 2023 (Two Day Ticket)

Buy tickets

Date:  November 16 - 19, 2023

Location:  Various venue in Englewood

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Englewood Beach Waterfest

Saturday, Nov 18, 2023 from 10:00am to 4:00pm

Join Us for the  2023 Englewood Beach Waterfest  which is scheduled to take place from Thursday, November 16th through Sunday, November 19th at various locations throughout Englewood, Florida.

RACE DAY EVENTS

OPA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 Raceday Events

SAT, NOV 18 & SUN, NOV 19, 2023, 10 AM TO 4 PM

Speed, Power and Excitement comes to Englewood, Florida! Watch thrilling offshore powerboat racing from Englewood Beach as boats gather points for the world championship races! This is the World Championships for OPA Racing (Offshore Powerboat Association) with 75+ boats running at speeds up to and over 150 miles per hour.

Saturday and Sunday, races start at approximately 10 AM, and the gate opens at 9 AM.

Race fans are encouraged to visit Waterfest Village on Englewood Beach during practice days on Friday and also all day on Saturday and Sunday.

2023 FAMILY CONSERVATION CENTER

Sat, Nov 18 & Sun, Nov 19, 2023, 10 AM to 4 PM

Mote Marine Laboratory will have six exhibits at Englewood Beach Waterfest on November 18 & 29, 2023 in the new Family Conservation Center. The exhibits are:

FIN-TASTIC FRIENDS – Learn the truth about the often misunderstood sharks and rays and about Mote’s current research to discover more about these amazing animals.

FLORIDA WATERSHEDS – What kinds of native animals live in your backyard? Learn about some of our remarkable native residents such as gators, birds and river otters. Discover what is harming our local watersheds and what you can do to protect them.

MARINE CSI – Learn about Mote’s team of experts who investigate animal strandings. Compare a dolphin and manatee skull, feel real dolphin bones and see if you can learn how to solve the case.

SPINELESS SEA – What do a sea star, a whelk, a horseshoe crab and a squid have in common? Learn some of the weird and wacky adaptations of the spineless sea, and how to protect them and help keep them in the ocean where they belong.

RADICAL REEFS – Are corals plants, animals or minerals? Learn about these fascinating ecosystems and the important work Mote scientists are doing to study, protect and restore our planet’s coral reefs.

Also scheduled to exhibit in addition to Mote:

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida

Florida Right to Clean Water

Gumbo Limbo Coastal Stewards

Lemon Bay High School Marine Club

Other Children’s Activities scheduled:

Face Painting

Venice Photo Booth

Butterfly Encounter

Expand your family’s marine life education and conservation efforts. Bring the whole family to The Family Conservation Center at Englewood Beach during the Englewood Beach Waterfest, Nov. 18 &19, 2023.

2023 WATERFEST BEACH OASIS

Cantina & Food Court

Come for the Races and the Family Conservation Center and enjoy the food!

Directly on the beach under tents, local restaurants will offer their Seafood and regional cuisine including many of your local favorites. Waterfest will have special fare for the children as well. Throughout the Food Court we will also have all types of traditional festival foods like funnel cakes, snow cones, popcorn, pretzels, ice cream and other delicacies you will enjoy.

What would a festival be without adult beverages? Waterfest will have beer, wine and mixed drinks this year throughout Waterfest Village. We will also be serving our signature specially priced, “Raceday cocktail” you don’t want to miss.

WATERFEST TICKET

November 18 – 19, 2023 (Two Day Ticket)

Buy tickets

Date:  November 16 - 19, 2023

Location:  Various venue in Englewood

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Race fans check out the Unlimited class Team CRC Custom Marine powerboat as it rolls down West Dearborn Street during Englewood Beach Waterfest 2019. See the race boats up close all along Dearborn Street after the race boat parade on Nov. 17.

• SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH
• Copy article link

Watch thrilling offshore powerboat racing from Englewood Beach as boats gather points for the world championship races.

• Photo provided by PalmTrends Marketing

Money Monster leads Rum Runners during the combined class 6 and 3 race at Englewood Beach Waterfest OPA World Championship races in 2021.

• Sun Photo by Tom O’Neill

SRS Racing competes in the combined class 3 and 6 race during the Englewood Beach Waterfest OPA World Championship races in 2021.

• Sun photo by Tom O’Neill

Team Progression make a pass during their Class 7 race during the Englewood Beach Waterfest OPA World Championship in 2022.

• Sun Photo by Tom O'Neill

The Team from Money Monster Racing catches air during their Class 6 run during the Englewood Beach Waterfest OPA World Championships in 2022 at Englewood Beach.

• Sun photo by Tom O'Neill

Watch thrilling offshore powerboat racing from Englewood Beach at Waterfest

• Audrey Blackwell Go! Correspondent
• Nov 14, 2023

World Champion Offshore Powerboat Association powerboat teams are getting ready for their biggest competition of the year at Englewood Beach Waterfest Nov. 18-19 at Englewood Beach.

Waterfest President and CEO Steve Gardiner said about 30,000 people are expected to attend the event over the course of the weekend. Boats will start coming into town Nov. 15-16.

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2023 Raceday Events, SAT, NOV 18 & SUN, NOV 19, 2023, 10 AM TO 4 PM Speed, Power and Excitement comes to Englewood, Florida! Watch thrilling offshore powerboat racing from Englewood Beach as boats gather points for the world championship races! This is the World Championships for OPA Racing (Offshore Powerboat Association) with 75+ boats running at speeds up to and over 150 miles per hour. Saturday and Sunday, races start at approximately 10 AM, and the gate opens at 9 AM. Race fans are encouraged to visit Waterfest Village on Englewood Beach during practice days on Friday and also all day on Saturday and Sunday. Cantina & Food Court, Come for the Races and the Family Conservation Center and enjoy the food! Directly on the beach under tents, local restaurants will offer their Seafood and regional cuisine including many of your local favorites. Waterfest will have special fare for the children as well. Throughout the Food Court we will also have all types of traditional festival foods like funnel cakes, snow cones, popcorn, pretzels, ice cream and other delicacies you will enjoy. https://englewoodbeachwaterfest.com/events/raceday/

Last edited by Serious News; 11-18-2023 at 11:51 PM .

*Schedule Subject to Change Wednesday, November 16, 2022 6pm-7pm Volunteer Meeting - Elks Lodge (401 N Indiana Ave, Englewood, FL 34223) DRY PITS OPEN FOR RACER PARKING Thursday, November 16, 2023 Arrival of Race Boats - Race Village - (2045 N Beach Rd, Englewood, FL) 5pm-10pm POWER-UP PARTY - The Waverly (2095 N Beach Rd, Englewood, FL) 5pm Coast Guard Briefing - Food Tent @ Chadwick Park 6pm Water Ops Meeting - Food Tent @ Chadwick Park Friday, November 17, 2023 ALL DAY Arrival of Race Boats; Race Village - (2045 N Beach Rd, Englewood, FL) 9am OPA Staff Environmental Briefing - Registration 9am Racer Meeting - Beach Tent @ Chadwick Park 10am The Carnivore Cup - Beach Tent @ Chadwick Park 8am-5pm Fueling @ Fuel Truck 10:30am-3pm Registration - 70 Beachcomber Ln, Englewood, FL 10:30am-3pm GPS Registration @ Race Village 10:30am-4pm Race Boat Inspections & Walkthroughs - Race Village 11am Race Control Operational 11am-4pm Crane & Ramp Operational 12pm Qualifying for 450R 12:30pm-3pm Race Boat Testing 5pm-10pm Race Boat Block Party (Dearborn St, Englewood, FL) Leave dry pits: 4pm, Return to pits: 10pm Saturday, November 18, 2023 All Day Race Village open to the Public 7:30am Set Up Course Buoys 7am Team Physicals - Beach Tent @ Chadwick Park 8am Racer Meeting - Beach Tent @ Chadwick Park 8am-5pm Fueling @ Fuel Truck 8:30am Rescue & Patrol Fleet briefing (Chadwick Park) 8:30am Crane & Ramp Operational 9am Race Control Operational 9:30am Patrol & Course Fleet on station 10am-5pm RACING - Starts TBD on-site 6:30pm RACE Meet & Greet - TBA Sunday, November 19, 2023 All Day Race Village open to the Public 7:30am Set Up Course Buoys 7am Team Physicals - Beach Tent @ Chadwick Park 8am Racer Meeting - Beach Tent @ Chadwick Park 8am-1pm Fueling @ Fuel Truck 8:30am Rescue & Patrol Fleet briefing (Chadwick Park) 8:30am Crane & Ramp Operational 9am Race Control Operational 9:30am Patrol & Course Fleet on station 10am-5pm RACING - Starts TBD on-site 7pm Awards Ceremony - SandBar Tiki & Grille (1975 Beach Rd, Englewood, FL)

WATERFEST BLOCK PARTY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023, 5PM TO 10PM Dearborn Street Annual BLOCK PARTY! FREE Admission to the Block Party, where you can see the race boats up close all along Dearborn Street, after our Race Boat PARADE! LIVE Music with Marty Moss at the Dignam Family Stage at Pioneer Park Food Trucks and Merchandise Vendors offering a variety of items for purchase

The weather is looking pretty good for the weekend.

Getting bad advice is unfortunate, taking bad advice is a Serious matter!!

Boat racers gearing up for 8th annual Waterfest on Englewood Beach MANASOTA KEY, Fla. — Nearly 100 powerboats will race against each other along the water for the Englewood Beach Waterfest and OPA World Championships on Saturday and Sunday. Competitors traveled from all over the country to compete in the OPA World Championships. At 10 a.m. on Friday over 40 people will race along the beach on Manasota Key near Chadwick Park, wearing inflatable T-Rex costumes for the first-ever Carnivore Cup. At 5 p.m. on Friday night, members of the public can view the powerboats up close at the Block Party on Dearborn Street. The race boats will parade through Downtown Englewood. This is a free event. The OPA World Championships is on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nearly 100 powerboats will race against each other, some of them at speeds over 150 miles per hour. Tickets can be bought online here. https://nbc-2.com/news/local/charlot...glewood-beach/

Last edited by Ratickle; 11-17-2023 at 08:01 PM .

There were 41 boats registered to run, one of which was having major problems and was not expected to run. There were 37 boats already in the pits.

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2023 PowerUp Pre-Race Party

Thursday, november 16, 2023, 5pm to 10pm.

Location: The Waverly Restaurant & Bar, 2095 N Beach Rd, Englewood, FL 34223

This event, which kicks off the race weekend, is open to the public and will be the first event to kick off the 8th Englewood Beach Waterfest!

Come mix and mingle with the Waterfest Race Teams and officials! 

As our host for this year’s party, The Waverly will be providing LIVE MUSIC by Verceal playing 6:30-9:30pm, and offering a Buffet for $35, along with other featured offerings. 

The Waterfest Board will be on hand with FREE Children’s Tickets (with adult ticket purchase), VIP Tickets and General Admission Tickets for sale. 

It’s going to be a not-to-be-missed night of food, fun and music, so make your plans now to attend the PowerUp Pre-Race Party!

Thank you to our presenting sponsor:

RESULTS:   2023 ENGLEWOOD BEACH WATERFEST

      DAY 1      

UNLIMITED 1st - 16 JBS ( 0.0 )

SUPER CAT 1st - 25 Hancock Claims ( 0.0 )

FACTORY STOCK 1st - 96 Doug Wright ( 0.0 )

SUPER STOCK 1st - S-42 Jackhammer ( 0.0 )

EXTREME VEE 1st - 20 Knucklehead ( 0.0 )

MOD VEE 1st - 477 Allied Offshore ( 50.0 ) 2nd - 107 Absolutely Not ( 45.0 )

STOCK VEE 1st - 53 The Firm ( 50.0 ) 2nd - 26 Cigar Monster ( 45.0 ) 3rd - 3 Wazzup ( 40.5 )

CLASS 2 1st - 211 Bat Boat ( 0.0 )

CLASS 3 1st - 388 Mr Herbotto ( 0.0 ) 2nd - 327 Team Woody ( 0.0 ) 3rd - 326 Brothers Racing ( 0.0 )

CLASS 4 1st - 441 Saris Racing ( 0.0 ) 2nd - 420 Crazy Rhythm ( 0.0 ) 3rd - 434 Control Freak ( 0.0 )

CLASS 5 1st - 509 Shoreline Plumbing ( 50.0 ) 2nd - 514 TC Marine ( 45.0 ) 3rd - 555 Mean Streak ( 40.5 ) 4th - 524 Sweat Equilty ( 36.5 ) 5th - 528 Hammerhead ( 33.0 ) 6th - 522 Rum Runner ( 29.5 ) 7th - 577 Yabba Dabba Doo ( 26.0 ) 8th - 521 Shocker ( 24.0 )

CLASS 6 1st - 609 Moderation ( 50.0 ) 2nd - 684 MDG Motorsports ( 45.0 ) 3rd - 621 Money Monster ( 40.5 ) 4th - 614 Logan's Heroes ( 36.5 ) 5th - 620 Dirty Martini ( 33.0 ) 6th - 673 Synergy ( 29.5 ) 7th - 602 Ultimate Boat Racing ( 26.0 ) 8th - 6221 Horizon ( 24.0 )

CLASS 7 1st - 721 Team Progression ( 50.0 ) 2nd - 730 Red Rum ( 45.0 ) 3rd - 759 Statement Marine ( 40.5 ) 4th - 700 The Punisher ( 36.5 ) 5th - 746 Provin Marine ( 33.0 ) 6th - 714 Shocker ( 29.5 ) 7th - 747r Statement Marine ( 26.0 ) 8th - 744 Jackhammer ( 24.0 )

9th - 747 Bad Habit ( 21.5)

10th - 701 Goofin' Around ( 19.5 )

OPA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

      DAY 2      

UNLIMITED 1st - 16 JBS ( 100.0 )

SUPER CAT 1st - 25 Hancock Claims ( 100.0 )

FACTORY STOCK 1st - 96 Doug Wright ( 100.0 )

SUPER STOCK 1st - S-42 Jackhammer ( 100.0 )

EXTREME VEE 1st - 20 Knucklehead ( 100.0 )

MOD VEE 1st - 107 Absolutely Not ( 100.0 ) 2nd - 477 Allied Offshore ( 90.0 )

STOCK VEE 1st - 53 The Firm ( 100.0 ) 2nd - 26 Cigar Monster ( 90.0 ) 3rd - 3 Wazzup ( 81.0 )

CLASS 2 1st - 211 Bat Boat ( 100.0 )

CLASS 3 1st - 388 Mr Herbotto ( 100.0 ) 2nd - 327 Team Woody ( 90.0 ) 3rd - 326 Brothers Racing ( 81.0 )

CLASS 4 1st - 441 Saris Racing ( 100.0 ) 2nd - 420 Crazy Rhythm ( 90.0 ) 3rd - 434 Control Freak ( 81.0 )

CLASS 5 1st - 509 Shoreline Plumbing ( 100.0 ) 2nd - 522 Rum Runner ( 90.0 ) 3rd - 555 Mean Streak ( 81.0 ) 4th - 528 Hammerhead ( 73.0 ) 5th - 577 Yabba Dabba Doo ( 66.0 ) 6th - 521 Shocker ( 59.0 ) 7th - 524 Sweat Equilty ( 53.0 ) 8th - 514 TC Marine ( 48.0 )

CLASS 6 1st - 684 MDG Motorsports ( 100.0 ) 2nd - 673 Synergy ( 90.0 ) 3rd - 621 Money Monster ( 81.0 ) 4th - 620 Dirty Martini ( 73.0 ) 5th - 6221 Horizon ( 66.0 ) 6th - 602 Ultimate Boat Racing ( 59.0 ) 7th - 609 Moderation ( 53.0 ) 8th - 614 Logan's Heroes ( 48.0 )

CLASS 7 1st - 759 Statement Marine ( 100.0 ) 2nd - 701 Goofin' Around ( 90.0 ) 3rd - 721 Team Progression ( 81.0 ) 4th - 747r Statement Marine ( 73.0 ) 5th - 700 The Punisher ( 66.0 ) 6th - 714 Shocker ( 59.0 ) 7th - 744 Jackhammer ( 53.0 ) 8th - 747 Bad Habit ( 48.0 )

9th - 746 Provin Marine ( 43.0 )

10th - 730 Red Rum ( 0.0 )

      TOTAL      

SUPER CAT 1st - 25 Hancock Claims( 100.0 )

MOD VEE 1st - 107 Absolutely Not ( 145.0 ) 2nd - 477 Allied Offshore ( 140.0 )

STOCK VEE 1st - 53 The Firm ( 150.0 ) 2nd - 26 Cigar Monster ( 135.0 ) 3rd - 3 Wazzup ( 121.5 )

CLASS 4 1st - 441 Saris Racing ( 100.0 ) 2nd - 420 Crazy Rhythm ( 90.0 ) 3rd - 434 Control Freak ( 80.0 )

CLASS 5 1st - 509 Shoreline Plumbing ( 150.0 ) 2nd - 555 Mean Streak ( 121.5 ) 3rd - 522 Rum Runner ( 119.5 ) 4th - 528 Hammerhead ( 106.0 ) 5th - 514 TC Marine ( 93.0 ) 6th - 577 Yabba Dabba Doo ( 90.0 ) 7th - 524 Sweat Equity ( 89.5 ) 8th - 521 Shocker ( 83.0 )

CLASS 6 1st - 684 MDG Motorsports ( 145.0 ) 2nd - 621 Money Monster ( 121.5 ) 3rd - 673 Synergy ( 119.5 ) 4th - 620 Dirty Martini ( 106.0 ) 5th - 609 Moderation ( 103.0 ) 6th - 6221 Horizon ( 90.0 ) 7th - 602 Ultimate Boat Racing ( 85.0 ) 8th - 614 Logan's Heroes ( 84.0 )

CLASS 7 1st - 759 Statement Marine ( 140.5 ) 2nd - 721 Team Progression ( 131.0 ) 3rd - 701 Goofin' Around ( 109.5 ) 4th - 700 The Punisher ( 102.5 ) 5th - 747r Statement Marine ( 99.0 ) 6th - 714 Shocker ( 88.5 )

7th - 744 Jackhammer ( 77.0 )

8th - 746 Provin Marine ( 76.0 )

9th - 747 Bad Habit ( 69.5 ) 

10th - 730 Red Rum ( 45.0 )

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Disciplined Aggression: Highlights From The 2023 OPA World Championships

In today’s world of offshore powerboat racing, it could be argued that the competitors in the “bracket classes” face the greatest challenges. For example, on the first day of the Offshore Powerboat Association world championships at the Englewood Beach Waterfest in Englewood Beach, Fla., on Saturday, the teams battled high winds and waves consistently measuring 5 feet tall with larger rogues and holes. Then on Sunday, the teams were met with much more favorable conditions, but they had to temper their desire to run wide open, which many could have done.

Jason Saris and Brent Appiarius earned the Bracket 500-class title at the OPA world championships in Englewood Beach, Fla., in thei r 30-foot Superboat, Shoreline Plumbing . Photos by Pete Boden/ Shoot 2 Thrill Pix

“It’s a very counter-intuitive thing,” said Jason Saris, who throttled two boats in different classes to world championships in the Bracket 500 and 400 categories. “We are so used to trying to make our boats go as fast as they can. In bracket racing, it’s about making your boat go the speed allowed and make it as rock-solid as you can.”

For example, in Bracket 400, Saris throttles his 33-foot Cobra, Saris Racing , with his son Johnny driving and Verne French navigating. The class has a speed limit of 85 mph, meaning that the governing body that puts on the race, the OPA, requires that the teams in the bracket classes turn in cards from their GPS units after the race. If race officials see that a team has “broken out” by exceeding the maximum speed for its class, it is penalized or disqualified. For Saris, the bracket-class speed limit simply presents another challenge.

“People ask me, ‘How fast does the Cobra go?’ and I really have no idea,” Saris said. “The drives are probably too low for most people, but it’s all about making it handle. I can go into a turn and not lift.”

It helps that he’s been racing with his son/driver Johnny for 10 years in Bracket 400.

“I’ve really gotten to enjoy the challenge,” the elder Saris said of bracket racing. “The whole thing about not breaking out is just a whole other challenge. Johnny is a really good driver and that’s a lot of it. Teamwork has a lot to do with it.”

Check out more images from Saturday’s “bumpy” racing conditions in the slideshow above.

The boats in the OPA’s Bracket 400 class didn’t get the chance to race on Saturday because winds were too strong to allow the transfer of personnel from a crashed raceboat to a rescue boat so the competition on Saturday was canceled for the last two races of the day.

That left Saris Racing competing with one other boat in Bracket 400 for the world championship in much calmer conditions on Sunday.

A total of 43 boats showed up in Englewood Beach for the OPA world championships that have been part of the Englewood Beach Waterfest for the past few years. After the area was hit hard by a hurricane in 2022, it welcomed the teams with open arms in search of a return to normalcy.

Bracket Masters For 2023, a contingent of teams forewent paying the big dollars to trailer to Key West for the Race World Offshore championships and headed to Englewood the week after. The four-mile course in the Gulf of Mexico offers a challenge of a dogleg and the fans on the beach in the sleepy town on the west coast of Florida turn out in droves to support the event.

Jason and Johnny Saris took home the world championship in the Bracket 400 class in their 33-foot Cobra, Saris Racing.

When Saris Racing took to the course on Sunday afternoon, it was racing against offshore powerboat racing legend Red Crain and Joe Torek in the 28-foot Challenger, Crazy Rhythm . The 34-foot Phantom, Control Freak , scratched both days.

Saris used his boat’s length advantage and pulled out to a lead the team would not relinquish. “Nobody would ever think about putting the tabs down and the drives straight,” Jason Saris said. “You lock the boat in the water. It’s not what you would normally do to go fast.”

In Bracket 500, the elder Saris used the size of the boat he throttled to his advantage yet again when he joined owner/driver Brent Appiarius in the 30-foot Superboat, Shoreline Plumbing. On Saturday, owner/throttleman Fran Vellutato and driver Mike McColgan jumped to an early lead in their 26-foot Scarab, Rum Runners, that was sponsored by a handful of Englewood businesses, but by the end of lap one, Shoreline Plumbing , had pulled to the lead.

Another big Long Island-built boat, the 29-foot Kryptonite, TC Marine, with driver Lou Laferrara and throttleman Tom Crowley appeared to finish second on both days, but on the strength of two solid finishes, the Mean Streak team of Vance Hagen and Jeremy Hellens in their 29-foot DCB , claimed the runner-up spot for the championship. Third in class for the weekend went to Rum Runners .

Jason Saris credited Appiarius for driving a good race, especially with keeping the course as short as possible in Sunday’s faster conditions. It would have been easy for a fast boat like Rum Runners to have snuck up on them.

Short Circuits After a convincing win on Saturday in Bracket 600, Johnny Saris and owner/driver Michael Lang in the 26-foot Modern Marine, Moderation, found themselves playing catchup when Jason Govatos and McColgan, who was pulling double duty, pulled out to an early lead in their 26-foot Protector, MDG Motorsports .

MDG Motorsports teammates Jason Govatos and Mike McGolgan secured the Bracket 600-class world title.

Johnny Saris said his competition ran a “perfect race” and that his GPS quit early in the race, so despite his best efforts not to break out of the class’ top speed, he wound up doing just that. Even though Moderation appeared to finish second on the livestream screen, the boat was dropped down in the rankings. That moved Money Monster, with owner/throttleman Jeff Kipfmueller, driver Tim VanderBerg and navigator Cliff Show, up to second overall in the world championship results. They were followed by Synergy , a rare appearance by a Sunsation in offshore racing, with driver Kevin Reger and throttleman Marcus Stackpoole.

Summing up the weekend on Sunday, Govatos said, “Yesterday was nasty as hell, but today was some fun water to run in.” For those who’ve never heard of a 26-foot Protector, he found the boat in a barn in Topeka, Kan., drove out from Maryland to get it and fortified the boat for racing. He built the engine with his dad, Dave, at the family’s MDG Performance in Edgewater, Md., and the team consistently improved through the season.

Saturday was a shock in more than one way for the in-boat team. The alternator was shorting out and the driver and throttleman were getting shocked when they tried to talk on the intercom system.

The tricky thing for Govatos and other throttlemen on Sunday was the wind from the north that tried to push the boats out of their speed brackets.

“That’s the nerve-wracking part about running up front,” he said. “You don’t want to slow down so someone catches you, but you don’t want to break out either.”

Rough Riders Competition on Saturday and Sunday started with the 21- and 22-foot boats in Bracket 700 taking to the four-mile course in the Gulf of Mexico. Ten boats registered for the races with one, Red Rum, dropping out of Sunday’s action after damaging the transom.

The father-son team of Joe Reilly Sr. and Joe, Jr., in the 22-foot Progression, Team Progression, put a on a dominant performance in Saturday’s race that was shortened to two laps in the rough conditions. On Sunday, the team ran the majority of the race in second place, chasing John Iezzatti and Jerry Harmant in Statement Marine Bad Decisions.

After driver Nick Buis sustained compression fractures in his back Saturday, he was replaced by Dalton Palestra in the other Statement Marine boat, which put two high-school-aged kids in the cockpit. Palestra drove and his best friend, Owen Buis, throttled #747. The two classmates worked their way up through the fleet to finish fourth on Sunday.

The Statement Marine 747 team unofficially claimed the Bracket 700-class world championship in Englewood Beach.

Perhaps the most impressive run of the day came from Matt and Joe Lauer in their Battlewagon boat, Goofin’ Around . They finished back in the pack on Saturday but were in a photo finish with Statement Marine 747 for the checkered flag on Sunday. They even lost the cowling for their 300-hp Mercury outboard during the race, but it didn’t slow them.

When the spray settled, the Statement Marine 747 team unofficially took the world title in Bracket 700 followed by Team Progression and Goofin’ Around .

Another father-son team continued to make strides in Bracket 300 with Keith and Cade Herbott having its best run of the year in its 38-foot Fountain, Herbott Racing . The team took the checkered flag on Sunday followed by Chad Woody and Billy Shipley in their Laveycraft, Team Woody , and Russ and Randy Breuninger in their custom-built canopied boat, Brothers Racing. All reported results are unofficial at this point.

In Stock V, Pete Riveiro and throttleman Chris Uzzolina in their 30-foot Activator/Rage, The Firm , took the rough-water win on Saturday and followed that with a last-lap checkered flag on Sunday to claim the world title.

The Firm teammates Pete Riveiro and Chris Uzzolina ran two strong races to win the Stock V world championship.

OPA president Ed “Smitty” Smith and his son, Anthony Smith, led from the green flag on Sunday in their 32-foot Phantom, Wazzup , but were taken down by a mechanical gremlin on the last lap Sunday. Jim Wessel and Rob Goodwin followed up in third in Cigar Monster . With the twin wins, The Firm claimed a hard-earned world championship.

In Modified V, David Kelly and throttleman Mark Gibbons in the 30-foot Fountain, Absolutely Not, dueled with local favorites Jake Nicks and Mark Fernandez in their 30-foot Phantom, Allied Construction.

In the final two races of the day, a fleet of boats running solo entertained the folks on shore. “Evil” Ed Smith drove the popular 40-foot Fountain, Knucklehead Instigator , with Anthony Smith throttling and ran alongside the equally popular 32-foot Victory, Jackhammer , that runs in Super Stock class with owner/driver Reese Langheim and throttleman Julian Maldonado.

The finale saw Maldonado team up with driver Logan Adan in the 38-foot Doug Wright catamaran, Doug Wright Powerboats, to “race” against owner/driver Jeff Stevenson and throttleman Micheal Stancombe in the 42-foot MTI , JBS Racing, and driver Christian McCauley and throttleman Anthony Smith in Win Farnsworth’s 40-foot MTI Super Cat, Hancock Claims Consultants .

The three catamarans roared around the four-mile course for about 10 laps until Doug Wright Powerboats pulled off early and the two inboard-powered boats finished the final three laps “dueling” until the weekend wrapped up.

Related stories Inside Englewood Beach: When Normalcy Means The OPA Worlds Commentary: The Lasting Importance Of Bracket-Class Racing Weather Ends Final Day Of OPA Englewood Beach Worlds OPA Worlds Day 1—Jumpstarting The Recovery

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Inflatable dinosaurs race to the finish line at Englewood Beach Waterfest

More than 40 dinosaurs signed up, all ready to go.

“My wife’s a little crazy in the head and started this whole thing with the dinosaur racing to get the community involved in what we’re doing with the racing,” he said, “so we kind of put it out there as a joke, and we had six or seven people sign up.”

The Waterfest started the Thursday and runs through Sunday, Nov. 19 at various locations in Englewood. 

A portion of the street will be closed off.

The gates open at 9 a.m., and tickets are available on-site.

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Emilia Cascio

May 28, 1918 - March 19, 2024 (105 years old)

Englewood , Florida

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Emilia Cascio Obituary

We are sad to announce that on March 19, 2024, at the age of 105, Emilia Cascio of Englewood, Florida passed away. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family.

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